Last Updated on 09/08/2023
“Involvement is intended to refer to principles and approaches that lead to individuals having real choices … and their voices heard and heeded both individually and collectively” (British Psychological Society, 2010).
Principles Underpinning Public and Service User Involvement on the Lancaster DClinPsy Programme
Partnership
Research suggests that embedded participation based on a partnership approach is most effective at achieving lasting change. We intend for service users to be key players or partners in the achievement of the vision and aims jointly developed by the programme and service users. We will actively promote the involvement and participation of service users in as many aspects of the programme’s work as appropriate.
Intention to Change
The Lancaster programme has a fundamental intention and commitment to adapt and evolve as a result of service user participation.
Power Relationships
We acknowledge that many service user involvement initiatives have not achieved their stated aims, due to a failure to truly involve users, or through limited or tokenistic involvement, or through professional and organisational resistance. We will seek to minimise, where possible, the effects of power relationships between service users and trainees and members of programme staff.
We aim for service users and carers to be active partners, and for initiatives and the achievement of aims to be as participative and user-led as possible. We acknowledge that this involvement needs to take place within certain constraints (e.g. finance, organisational policy and HCPC & BPS standards and guidance).
Expertise
The programme will recognise the validity and worth of the unique expertise that service users have developed through experience, and will aim to treat service users and carers as ‘experts by experience’.
Representativeness
Service users and carers are often asked to be more ‘representative’ than any other group of stakeholders in the change management process (SCIE, 2015), and service users who are marginalised from mainstream services can also be found to be under or unrepresented in the participation intended to develop those services.
The Lancaster DClinPsy programme aims to promote the representation of as wide a range of users of services as practical. Service users from a range of services will be invited to be involved in the work of the programme.
Managing Expectations
The programme and service users will aim to be as clear as possible about their expectations and limits of the partnership. The process and impact of service user involvement will be monitored and evaluated on an ongoing basis through trainee, staff and service user feedback.
Inclusivity
The programme welcomes the involvement of people regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, faith, sexual orientation, or ability. Service users who currently work with the course are a diverse group, and include people who have used mental health services, care for those who use services, or have an interest in mental health professional training.
LUPIN
The Lancaster University Public Involvement Network (LUPIN) aims to increase public involvement in the Lancaster Doctoral Programme in Clinical Psychology. LUPIN was set up in early 2008 and its members include current and former users of clinical psychology services, carers, members of the public interested in mental health service development, programme staff and trainee clinical psychologists. We are clear that staff members and trainees can also be current or historical service users and/or carers and we welcome this perspective.
LUPIN and the course are working together to make sure that a public involvement perspective is woven throughout all aspects of the DClinPsy programme. This is to improve the experience of training so that trainees learn from the experiences of service users and carers.
Structure, Processes and Methods of Involvement
LUPIN members are involved in a range of work on the programme including selection interviews for trainees, teaching, advising on trainee research projects and membership of programme committees. LUPIN is also linked into various groups both locally and nationally that help to promote the involvement of service users and carers in clinical psychology and wider services.
LUPIN meets as a steering group, which aims to guide the overall strategy. Future strategic aims for LUPIN are currently in development.
Service users have been involved in several aspects of the work of the programme:
Teaching
Service users (including, but not restricted to, LUPIN members) have contributed to the planning and delivery of teaching sessions and workshops with trainees and clinical psychologists external to the programme. LUPIN members have contributed to the peer observation of teaching sessions to trainees.
Members of service user groups representing other specialities (such as people with learning disabilities) also regularly contribute to teaching on the programme.
Selections and Admissions
LUPIN members are members of the interview panels which select each new intake of trainees. A variety of other service users are also involved in the “video discussion task”, one of the four elements of the recruitment process during selection week.
Research
Trainees are encouraged to involve experts by experience in the planning and management of their individual research projects. Please see the Public Participation in Research Activity guidance.
Programme Management
LUPIN members contribute to the programme development and implementation group meetings and the Programme Board.
Fitness to Practise
LUPIN members form part of the Fitness to Practise panel.
Dedicated resources
The programme will ensure that dedicated time from programme staff is available to support service user involvement in all its aspects. This will include members of the clinical, research and administrative staff. The programme will provide suitable meeting venues, travel expenses, and payment for activities when appropriate.
Leadership
Programme staff will take responsibility for chairing LUPIN steering group and subgroup meetings. Programme administrative staff will be responsible for keeping and circulating meeting minutes.
Payment for Service User Involvement
LUPIN members are involved in a wide range of course-related activities and we wish to recognise the skills and expertise that are brought to these activities, as well as the time that members give to help us improve and develop the training course.
What types of payment are offered?
Fees. Payment is offered for all course-related activities in which experts by experience are involved. There are different options available for payment and these are discussed when someone is interested in joining LUPIN. The payment structure is currently under review and will be available for the handbook when finalised.
LUPIN steering group
The LUPIN steering group meets every three months and aims to guide the overall strategy of service user and carer involvement with the course. The terms of reference for the group are currently being updated.
Support, Training and Development
Reasonable adjustment will be made for those who are disabled in any way by society in order for service users to participate in programme activities. This includes, for example, accessible meeting venues, and aids and adjustments for visual, cognitive or hearing impairments.
The level of involvement by service users in programme activities is dependent on personal choice, and the programme does not have specific expectations of how much time people need to commit.
Through discussion at LUPIN steering group meetings the programme aims to meet any specific and relevant training and development needs that are highlighted through the work. For example, to date, this has led to arranging a training session for LUPIN members to understand policy and legislation on Equality and Diversity.
Recruitment
We are keen to encourage trainee representation on the LUPIN steering group. We are also keen to recruit more members of the public and service users to LUPIN. We would encourage trainees, whilst on placement, to publicize LUPIN.
LUPIN If you are interested in becoming involved please get in touch with the staff team who facilitate LUPIN: –
Zarah Eve: z.eve@lancaster.ac.uk
Anna Duxbury: a.duxbury@lancaster.ac.uk
Suzanne Hodge: s.hodge@lancaster.ac.uk